Man terrified his partner by going on a drink-fuelled rage

As reported in the Advertiser previously, Alloa Sheriff Court heard that Grant Mathieson and his then girlfriend of 18 months had been having difficulties in their relationship.

Fiscal depute Ruaraidh Ferguson told the court that on October 9 last year, at his home address in Tullibody’s Glentye Drive, the accused drank a significant amount of alcohol and was upset following an argument with his partner.

The 28-year-old was left to sit outside on his own for hours.

During this time, a third-party asked Mathieson to go back inside, but he refused.

Later, the complainer offered to make him a cup of tea.

When she poured the accused’s remaining brandy down the sink, his mood changed to one of anger.

Mathieson went back inside to which another argument ensued.

The accused shouted and swore at his partner in front of child witnesses.

The complainer texted her mother: “OMG mum, he is being such a f**king psycho. I’m actually terrified.”

Further conflict arose when the complainer began to pack some belongings. Mathieson did not want her to leave and take the children away.

The complainer had difficulty putting one of the kids in a car seat because of a broken door handle.

The accused tried to intervene and take the child back into the house.

He then refused to let his partner use another phone as she was having difficulties with her mobile.

When back inside, Mathieson smashed a cabinet in the bathroom with his head.

He apologised, but the complainer and the kids took refuge at a neighbour’s house.

The accused followed them and proceeded to knock on the neighbour’s door and living room window, which caused further upset to the complainer and children.

The neighbour offered to drive the scared family to safety, however the accused followed them in his partner’s car.

He drove at speed to catch up and pulled alongside them before blocking the road with the vehicle.

Mathieson then got out of the car and wagged his finger at the complainer, however the neighbour reversed and got away.

The accused then hopped back in his car and drove off at speed.

When the police eventually caught up with Mathieson hours later he tested over the limit with 56 microgrammes of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath - the legal limit being 22mg.

Admitting he acted in a threatening manner and driving whilst under the influence of alcohol and without insurance, Mathieson was said to be “thoroughly ashamed” of his actions.

It was claimed in defence that the accused thought the complainer had left the house already.

When he was sitting outside, drinking and listening to music, he got a shock when the complainer removed one of his earphones as he didn’t know she was still there.

His reaction was then fuelled by alcohol.

The couple have since separated, however they remain on amicable terms.

Returning to court on Thursday for punishment, Sheriff David Mackie noted Mathieson's positive progression on another Community Payback Order.

Sheriff Mackie sentenced the accused to an additional CPO with 90 hours of unpaid work. Mathieson was also disqualified from driving for a year, backdated to October 31, 2016.